New research shows that men under the age of 60 are at risk of cardiac death on hot summer nights. Researchers in England and Wales found that men aged 60 to 64 were most at risk when mercury boiled at night during the summer months.
But the same effect was not observed in women. Previous studies have linked death to heart or circulatory disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, with heat waves.
A new study, published in the journal BMJ Open, sought to examine the possible link between higher nighttime summer temperatures and cardiovascular disease deaths in people aged 60 to 69. Researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada set out to look at data from mid-latitudes as nighttime heat in these parts of the world intensified during the summer months.
Scientists studied nearly 40,000 cardiovascular deaths between the ages of 60 and 69 in England and Wales between 2001 and 2015. They found that a 1°C increase in nighttime temperature, compared with typical summer heat, was associated with an increase of 3.1%. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease in men aged 60 to 64 years.
No increased risk was observed in women and men in the late 1960s. The researchers also studied 488 deaths from cardiovascular diseases during the summer months in Washington State, USA.
They found that a fever of 1 degree Celsius was associated with a 4.8 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men around the age of 60, but not in men over 65. “Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease in men aged 60 to 64 years,” the authors wrote.
They added: “Given the increasing potential for severe summers in the western United States and the United Kingdom, our findings have led to population health prevention initiatives and a new urban policy aimed at reducing future risks of cardiovascular disease.”
Commenting on the study, Julie Ward, a cardiologist at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study adds to the evidence that hot summer temperatures can affect the heart, increasing the risk of health complications and even death in people with cardiovascular disease. Pathology However, this study is observational, so it cannot show cause and effect; it also provides data up to 2015 only.
“More research is now needed to understand why this slight increase in nighttime temperature affects men and women differently and whether this association is still observed in recent years. In hot weather, your body needs to work harder to maintain its core temperature. At the normal level, which puts pressure on your heart.
“The most important thing you can do to protect your heart on hot summer nights is freshness and water. Try to keep the house cool during the day, close the curtains to protect it from the sun, keep a glass of water nearby at night to prevent dehydration, and wear cotton pajamas.”
.
Source: Belfastlive
Tim-32Brown is a distinguished writer for TodayTimesLive, known for his exceptional talent in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Tim crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for insightful journalism and a commitment to delivering high-quality articles.
